Nationwide, at the collegiate level, almost 30% of all students will drop out by the end of their sophomore year. Based on presenting history prior to matriculation at Carlbrook our students are at even higher risk, particularly given their propensity for substance abuse. That stated we have committed to developing individual and familial approaches to better arrest the pernicious cycle of relapse.
Floyd Wiseman, M.D. and Duke University Medical Center currently provide on-campus psychiatric services for Carlbrook students. Dr. Wiseman has been working with the school for the past 2 years and is clinically familiar with just over 30% of our student body. Additionally, this multidisciplinary perspective, whereby some key members work outside the Carlbrook umbrella, has facilitated an exceptional level of professional candor. In order to further augment the Department of Advising at Carlbrook we have commenced the next phase of this cooperative effort.
Approximately 75% of all incoming Carlbrook students present with a history of substance abuse in tandem with other diagnostic impressions. For the past 8 months we have reviewed multiple approaches and personnel to ascertain what would be an optimal Recovery Maintenance Program for Carlbrook. After much deliberation we have elected to work with Duke University Medical Center's Jeffrey Georgi, M.Div., M.A.H., LCAS, LPC, his wife Becky Georgi, MS, LPC, LCAS, and Aaron White, Ph.D. (bios attached) to develop and staff on-campus, year round substance abuse programming. This module will enjoy real-time access to the most current academic and clinical information available to better educate and prepare our students and families for the toxicity of college life and beyond.
The aforementioned team began a comprehensive assessment of Carlbrook this past August. This includes but is not limited to interviews with randomly selected cohorts of students, parents, alumni, and faculty, as well as observation and evaluation of extant modalities employed (including thematic workshops, group work, strategic individual and family counseling, etc.). Our goal is to instate, by year's end, a comprehensive, integrated Recovery Maintenance Program that addresses both individual and collective needs of our students and families. Information regarding specifics of this module will be forthcoming. In the interim should you have any questions please feel free to contact Kelly Dunbar (kellydunbar@carlbrook.org) or Vicky Williams (vickywilliams@carlbrook.org) in the Office of Admissions.
Jeffrey M. Georgi, M.Div., M.A.H, LCAS, LPC, CGP currently serves as clinical director of the Addictions Consult and Intervention Program at Duke University Medical Center. For over 20 years, Jeff has held clinical appointments in the departments of Surgery and Psychiatry at DUMC and has contributed to a number of Treatment Improvement Protocols referenced as best practice guidelines by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment in Washington D.C. Additionally, Jeff is Clinical Director of Bridges to Wholeness, a professional group that seeks to bridge the gap between research and practice within the addiction prevention, intervention and treatment community.
Rebecca Georgi, MS, LPC, LCAS, CCS is a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University. She has also served as Adolescent Substance Abuse Program Director at the Duke Addictions Program. Mrs. Georgi holds a certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Menninger Foundation and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist and Certified Clinical Supervisor.
Aaron M. White, Ph.D., also on the faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center, is an awarded instructor and researcher. Dr. White specializes in adolescent brain development and treatment of substance abuse and has focused on the development of substance abuse education and prevention programs for high school students. Over the course of his career, Dr. White's work has appeared in Discover magazine, USA Today, CNN, NBC, ABC, PBS, BBC News as well as professional publications.